Sheep Mountain (Snohomish County, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sheep Mountain |
|
|---|---|
Sheep Mountain
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,166 ft (1,879 m) |
| Prominence | 1,126 ft (343 m) |
| Geography | |
 Sheep Mountain
Location in Washington (state)
Sheep Mountain
Location in the United States
|
|
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Bedal |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Sheep Mountain is a mountain peak located in Snohomish County, Washington state. It sits near the western edge of the North Cascades mountain range. This mountain is about one mile east of Barlow Pass. You can find it along the Mountain Loop Highway, close to the Monte Cristo area.
Sheep Mountain is part of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In the late 1800s, during the old mining days, the area from Cadet Peak to Sheep Mountain was called the Pride of the Mountains Range. Water from the mountain flows into streams that feed the Sauk River.
Weather and Climate
Sheep Mountain is in a marine west coast climate zone. This means it has mild temperatures and lots of rain. Most weather systems come from the Pacific Ocean. They travel northeast towards the Cascade Mountains.
When these weather systems hit the tall Cascade peaks, they are forced to rise. This process is called Orographic lift. As the air rises, it cools and drops its moisture. This causes a lot of rain or snowfall on the west side of the North Cascades. Winter months see the most snowfall.
Because it's close to the Pacific Ocean, temperatures rarely go below 0°F (–18°C) or above 80°F (27°C). Winters are often cloudy. However, in summer, high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean bring clear skies. The snow here tends to be wet and heavy. This can lead to a high risk of avalanches.
How the Mountains Formed
The North Cascades have very rugged land. You can see sharp peaks, long ridges, and deep valleys carved by glaciers. These amazing shapes were created by geological events over millions of years. These events caused big changes in elevation. This also led to different climates and types of plants in the area.
The Cascade Mountains started forming millions of years ago. This was during the late Eocene Epoch. The North American Plate slowly moved over the Pacific Plate. This caused many volcanic eruptions. Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, came together. This helped form the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
Over two million years ago, during the Pleistocene period, glaciers moved across the land many times. As they moved, they scraped away rock and left behind debris. The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were formed by these glaciers. The lifting of the land (orogeny) and faulting, along with glaciation, created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades.
More Information
- Weather forecast: Sheep Mountain
